Fifty Adventure Films to Keep you Inspired During Lockdown
Victoria's 7-day lockdown has created the opportunity for some sofa time. Here is a list of 50 films to keep you inspired and amazed!
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Bushwalking Clubs Bounce Back after a Year of COVID-19 Restrictions
Bushwalking Clubs have bounced back with renewed energy and wanderlust after all the restrictions and cancellations the pandemic caused last year.
An excellent example is the West Gippsland Bushwalking Club (WGBWC) that gained many new members who are enjoying their varied and exciting walks program.
The WGBWC walks every second Tuesday with three walking groups, the Ramblers, Hikers and Trekkers, to provide for different walking capabilities. The Ramblers walk approximately eight kilometers with the Trekkers walking up to eighteen kilometers. On a typical day, 40 to 50 members will walk in one of the three groups.
Exploring Mount Worth State Park is a favourite club activity with club members helping maintain tracks by assisting the Friends of Mt Worth State Park. Thirty-six members volunteered their time in February to repair a bridge, spray blackberries, and prune over-hanging shrubbery. The activity was concluded with a picnic lunch with Parks Victoria staff and the Friends group.
Each year, the club enjoys a day trip traveling by bus to walk in a more distant location. Their trip in March was to South Gippsland stopping at Agnes Falls for a short walk to the Falls and morning tea with the local Agnes Falls Friend’s group. Then it was on to Port Albert for a 10-kilometer walk along the foreshore followed by lunch at the well-known fish and chip shop.
In April, the club went to Apollo Bay for their autumn weeklong trip, with over forty members and partners participating. Based at the caravan park, day walks were organised along the Great Ocean Walk and in the Otway hinterland. The club is planning a trip to the Daylesford area for their spring weeklong trip in October.
The West Gippsland Bushwalking club certainly lives its motto of “Friendship, Fitness, and Adventure”!
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Federation Walks 2021 Update
Our annual Federation Walks, a member-only event, will be held in the Gippsland Foothills and Southern Alps, based at the Licola Wilderness Village from Friday, 12 November to Monday, 15 November 2021
The organising committee has some exciting news: The brand new website will go live on 4 June 2021. Peter Maffei and his team have been working very hard to get it looking and working great!
The walks have been finalised and all the details will be listed on the new website.
Registrations open on Monday 2nd August. Visit the website soon after 4 June to browse the wide and wonderful selection of walks (including three overnight walks) before registrations open in order to have your preferences ready to go when registrations open.
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Caring for Those Who Care!
Are you a carer of a loved one and love walking? Pathways for Carers may very well be for you!
Being a carer who provides unpaid support to a loved one with a mental health issue or disability can be isolating and challenging. These unsung heroes make an invaluable contribution to the community and taking care of their own health and well-being is vital.
The benefits of bushwalking and being in nature are endless. Not only will a walk in nature rejuvenate, calm, and promote clarity, but it also lowers diabetes and heart disease risk, improves mental health, and prolongs life. Pathways for Carers is a Victorian Government-funded program that initiates and supports monthly walks with other carers.
The program provides participants with an opportunity to socialise and connect with nature as well as learn more about news, services, and support available to them.
Various local government electorates host these uplifting free monthly events. Walking groups typically use a local trail in a casual, no-stress environment. The regular event concludes at a local community hall or cafe where participants have the opportunity to hear from a guest speaker whilst sharing a delicious complimentary morning tea. Put simply the program means fresh air, a friendly face, and a hot cuppa together! The Pathways for Carers program is focused on providing empathetic support for carers. It is caring for those who care.
If you are a carer and would like to form a carer group in your local area, please contact Andrea Bayliss on andrea.bayliss@ioe.org.au for more information.
To join an existing walking group, please visit their website for location and contact details:
https://www.pathwaysforcarers.com.au/regional-victoria/
https://www.pathwaysforcarers.com.au/metropolitan-melbourne/
Here are their social media for regular updates:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pathwaysforcarersvic/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pathways_for_carers_vic/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pathways-for-carers-victoria-20131820a/
Pathways for Carers is proudly supported by Interchange Outer East, AccessHC and the Victorian Government.
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An Updated Map from Meridian
Meridian Maps and Carto Graphics have released an update of their popular Great South West Walk and Lower Glenelg Map. This is definitely the ‘go-to’ map for all those wishing to explore this amazing region.
Whether one’s interests lie in walking the renowned Great South West Walk or shorter day walks, fishing, canoeing or simply relaxing at one of the many campsites on the banks of the mighty Glenelg River, this is the map for you.
The map is double-sided and scaled at 1:50,000 which allows for plenty of detail. Topography is clearly illustrated including contours at 10m intervals. Plenty of additional features such as walking tracks, horse and driving trails, campsites and tourist facilities are plotted.
Printed copies of this publication can be purchased from local and online retailers and through Meridian Maps; both sides of the map are also available in georeferenced electronic form through the phone app Avenza. Having the electronic versions of these maps and using the GPS capability of the phone means you always know exactly where you are. This is the beauty of having the maps available both as paper and on a phone app which has full navigational ability.
~ Review by Andrew Robinson (Bushwalker, Camper, Mapping and Navigation Trainer)
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Other News of Interest
For an update from Outdoors Victoria, click here.
For details about the National Outdoor Education Conference in September, click here.
The latest news from Parks Victoria is here.
Here is the Trust for Nature's Conservation Bulletin.
From the State Government:
Supporting Traditional Owners to Care for Country.
Record Investment To Protect Victoria from Bushfire Risk
Parks Investment Means More Open Space And Jobs
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Meet Some of Australia's Tiniest Mammals
You can meet five tiny mammals weighing less than a kilogram here.
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For those with daily desk jobs, the weekend is a source of freedom and balance. How adventurous can one get in a single weekend and 55 hours away from home?
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Bob's Monthly Safety Tip
 Preventing Falls
Falls are the most frequent incidents that occur on bushwalks. While many of these do not cause any injuries, some can be serious. You need to be constantly alert and watching the track ahead. Things to be aware of include:
- Not keeping your eyes on the track. It is acceptable to pause a conversation when walking on challenging terrain or walk and talk with intermittent eye contact, as sometimes eye-to-eye contact and discussion can momentarily cause your attention span and view to lapse at a crucial time.
- It is essential to have good tread on your footwear. As these wear down, the grip is reduced increasing the chances of slipping on wet surfaces.
- Take particular care when crossing a waterway, even if quite shallow. Many incidents have occurred in these conditions.
Walking poles can be handy to aid with balance, especially on uneven tracks, hilly terrain, and water crossings.
Take care and enjoy your walking!
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Insurance & Claims Information
All the information about the national insurance scheme for bushwalking clubs and how to submit claims are here.
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Dates for your calendar
Click here for important dates and events for your bushwalking calendar.
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Bushwalking Manual
Find the Bushwalking Manual here - a handy go-to resource for bushwalkers! You are welcome to provide feedback on the manual content and/or offer suggestions using this form.
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BTAC (Bushwalking Tracks & Conservation)
Our BTAC team of volunteers participate in track maintenance and conservation projects all over Victoria. BTAC works closely with the land managers of our national parks and forests to schedule around ten projects a year. More information here.
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BSAR (Bush Search & Rescue Victoria)
BSAR is a dedicated volunteer search and rescue service. They participate in land-based search and rescues for persons lost in bush and alpine areas under the direction of the Victoria Police. More information here.
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Follow us on Facebook for news, updates and inspiration! |
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Discounts for club and individual members are available from:
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"No one will protect what they don’t care about,
and no one will care about what they have never experienced."
- David Attenborough
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